Shelton, Connecticut
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| Shelton, Connecticut | |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| NECTA | Bridgeport-Stamford |
| Region | The Valley |
| Incorporated (town) | 1789 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1915 |
| Government type | Mayor-board of aldermen |
| Mayor | Mark A. Lauretti |
| Area | |
| - City | 82.6 km² (31.9 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| - City (2005) | 39,477 |
| - Density | 498/km² (1,290/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 06484 |
| Website: http://cityofshelton.org/ | |
Shelton is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The Census 2000 population estimate was 38,101.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 82.7 km² (31.9 mi²). 79.2 km² (30.6 mi²) of it is land and 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²) of it (4.26%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 38,101 people, 14,190 households, and 10,543 families residing in the city. The population density was 481.2/km² (1,246.4/mi²). There were 14,707 housing units at an average density of 185.8/km² (481.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.44% White, 1.12% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.08% Asian, 0.89% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.48% of the population.
There were 14,190 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $67,292, and the median income for a family was $75,523. Males had a median income of $50,210 versus $36,815 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,893. About 2.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Prominent companies
- Shelton is home to Wiffle Ball, Inc. This company makes the original Wiffle Ball, a popular variant of baseball. A Wiffle Ball is a white plastic ball with slits cut in one end to effect air flow. This ball is pitched towards a batter who attempts to hit the Wiffle Ball with a yellow plastic bat, also produced by Wiffle Ball, Inc. of Shelton, CT.
- Home to Swiss Army Brands U.S. regional office, with about 175 employees,[1] is planning a move to Monroe.
- TranSwitch Corp. headquarters, 3 Enterprise Drive
- Pitney Bowes employs 1,460 in the city.[1]
- Health Net Inc. has 1,500 employees in the city.[1]
- Computershare (formerly Transcentive Inc.), 2 Enterprise Drive
- NEC Unified Solutions (formerly Nitsuko America), manufacturer of business telephone systems, 4 Forest Parkway
[edit] Interesting Facts
The Shelton Gaels high school football team won the state championship in 1988, 1995, 2000, and 2003. The Gaels have been a mainstay in statewide newspaper polls and rankings for the past ten years, usually being ranked one of the best teams in the state by sports columnists and reporters. Had one of the largest arson fires in the United States history. It happened when B.F. Goodrich was set on fire so the owner could claim insurance money.
[edit] Notable residents, past and present
- Joe Ballaro, bassist of the rock band Hot Rod Circuit.
- Isaac Hull (1773 - 1843), Commodore in the U.S. Navy; commanded U.S.S. Constitution among other ships.\
- David N. Mullany, inventor of the Wiffle Ball.
- Dan Orlovsky, american professional football player, born in Shelton.
- Dan Quirk, late professional wrestler known as "Spider" who appeared in movies and died in an accident while in his early 20s.
[edit] On the National Register of Historic Places
- Commodore Hull School — 130 Oak Ave. (added July 30, 1983)
- Huntington Center Historic District — Roughly along Church and Huntington Sts., from Ripton Rd. to the Farmill River (added April, 2000)
- Plumb Memorial Library — 47 Wooster St. (added December 7, 1978)
[edit] External links
- Town government Web site
- Fairfield County Business Journal slideshow
- Derby Historical Society Web site The society was "Founded April 18, 1946, to serve the Naugatuck Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, & Shelton."
- Coastal Fairfield County Convention & Visitor Bureau
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